Parking crunch: Company’s training in downtown Bakersfield impacting nearby small business

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — A social media post by downtown coffee shop Blue Oak Coffee got lots of attention over the weekend.

In the caption the owners said they have lost most of their regular customers because of lack of parking while also having to halt its curbside pick up service. The culprit? A 10-week training for California Dairies Inc. happening at Lino’s Venue nearby on H Street.

“It was disappointing because that was definitely not our intention,” said Frances Cueto, owner of Lino’s Venue. “We did think hosting this training and bringing people that normally wouldn’t frequent downtown — bringing them to our downtown area to support our neighbors.

Seventy people are taking the training. They have been parking in Lino’s lot, Bakersfield Fire Department’s parking on G Street, and the vacant property in front of Blue Oak Coffee. Plus, they were issued parking permits to use street parking for longer than usual.

Cueto says the training is already helping surrounding businesses too.

“We fed them a couple of times ourselves, but they’re literally taking their breaks and lunches, and they’re walking down the street to all the surrounding areas,” Cueto said.

“Between F Street and K [Street], Truxtun and 22nd, there’s actually a capacity for parking,” said Bakersfield Vice Mayor Andrae Gonzales. “It’s actually during the weekday between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., it’s about a 70% capacity. So there’s a 30% opportunity there.”

Gonzales also said he acted quickly with Cueto and requested five spots in front of Blue Oak Coffee to not be used during their hours of operation to not disturb the business.

Owner’s of Blue Oak Coffee said they might not survive this situation through November.

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